It was one goal Caden Redante never had.
But just another one to add to his resume.
Redante is a senior at Calvary Christian Academy and is a member of its celebrated boys soccer team.
On top of helping the Cougars become one of the best teams in the Bicentennial Athletic League and across the state, he’s put together an impressive stat that not many high school soccer players reach.
Redante has scored 100 goals in his career. It didn’t look like he would get anywhere near that his first few years.
He scored 11 freshman year, and only 18 sophomore year.
Yes, we say only 18, because while most people would celebrate that, he needed to average more than 35 goals a year during his final two seasons to make that mark.
He netted 42 his junior year and now has 33 to his credit for his senior year, which is still ongoing.
You’d think a milestone like that would drive a soccer player to only worry about that, but that’s not who Redante is.
“It never really was a thought at all until after last season,” said Redante, who lives in Jamison. “After adding up the first three years, I knew it was possible. But I wanted it to be as little a thought as possible. I didn’t want it to take away from the main focus, winning the game. So it’s not like I was ever worried about it. I looked at scoring to help us win, I wasn’t really worried about the record.”
Then, the team leader thought about it and realized it was a big deal. But not for him.
“I mean my sophomore year I played in the midfield and then they moved me up top for junior year, so I had a lot more chances,” he said. “There were a ton of my teammates feeding me balls and the wingers crossing balls. I was just finishing. Everyone else was doing the dirty work. I was able to finish. I definitely had a lot more chances and playing up top made it a lot easier to score.
“I’d say making chances, making more runs up top helped. But I had to get the ball from my teammates. The team definitely as a whole, we were at our best when we play as a unit. Last year was our best year and having a trustworthy backline and midfield was why. I’m able to trust them to get their job done. I want to repay them the favor by finishing when we have opportunities.
“This was fun, but it’s certainly not my record. It’s our record. It’s soccer, you can’t do it alone, you need a great team.”
The Cougars have been proving that over the past few years.
Two years ago, the team won the District One Class A championship by knocking off New Hope-Solebury in overtime, which got them in the state tournament for the first time in school history.
Last year, they fell just shy of repeating as district champions, falling in the championship game.
That was a bitter pill to swallow for everyone, but especially for Redante, who was sad to see all his senior teammates depart without a title. But one graduation hit harder than the rest.
“During the ceremony you watch the team get their first-place medal and see them celebrate,” he said. “I’m in the huddle with my brother Nolan, my best friend, and I know I’ll never play with him again. I tried not to, but I feel like I took it for granted.”
While his brother is now playing at Cairn University, both brothers continue to play soccer for many reasons.
But according to Redante, the main reason is his faith.
“Before every game, me and the other captain say, ‘It’s work as hard as you can and glorify God in everything you say and do,’ ” Redante said “If you keep those things true, you can never lose no matter what the score says. We were taught that by our family and school and what the Bible teaches us. No matter what the scoreboard says, if you do that, you’re a winner.
“Really, no matter what one person does, no matter who it is, they’re doing it because God is allowing them to. If I break my leg in the next game and never play again, my love for the Lord will never change. No goal or win or state championship will trump that. That’s the main reason.”
His faith is something he picked up from his family. It’s not the only thing.
If you watch the way he works on the field or in school, you know Redante has a great work ethic. That was passed down.
“My dad was a baseball player his whole life, played D-1 at La Salle,” he said. “He has two sons who love soccer, so now he’s into soccer. Hundreds of games, hundreds of practices. I can’t imagine how much money he’s spent. He always finds a way to say the right thing to help me keep my cool or whatever the situation is. He’s always been there with wisdom and the right advice. My grandfather as well, my dad’s dad. He grew up in Brazil and was as poor as can be. He made his way here, started his own company and made a living. He’s the reason we’re over here. He’s the hardest-working person I’ve ever met.”
Radante plans on going to college, possibly major in finance and there’s a good chance he’ll continue his soccer career.
But first, he has unfinished business to take care of, namely another district crown and possibly a state title.
Whatever he does, he’ll do his best to represent his school, his family and his faith.
“We might be the only Bible someone reads, meaning if we play another school, if it’s a school that doesn’t have Christians, we are Calvary Christian Academy. It’s super important to hold us to a higher standard not to misrepresent our parents, teacher, school and, of course, God himself. I’m proud with how we have carried ourselves. That’s bigger than soccer.” ••
